1975
The American sculptor Alexander Calder is known as the father of the mobile, a moving artwork composed of delicately balanced sculptural forms suspended from the ceiling.
Because Calder's parents, both artists themselves, did not want him to suffer the hardships of trying to make a living in art, they encouraged the young Calder to study mechanical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, New Jersey. He worked a number of jobs, including as a hydraulic engineer and draftsman for the New York Edison Company, before deciding to pursue an artistic career. He never abandoned his engineering background, however, applying his understanding of gears and moving parts in all his artworks, from mechanical toys like the Cirque Calder (1931) and his revered prints to his free-standing abstract sculptures, called stabiles.
In 1926, Calder moved to Paris and established a studio in the Montparnasse quarter. He began creating the many parts of his famous miniature circus from found materials, such as wire, string, cloth, rubber and cork. Designed to be transportable, Cirque grew to fill five suitcases over the years. Always interested in putting forms in motion, Calder also pioneered a new art form called wire sculptures, which he described as “drawings in space.” Like his famous mobiles, the wire sculptures were suspended so that they turned with any movement of the air, presenting different forms when viewed from different angles.
In the 1950s, Calder returned to his roots in mechanical engineering, creating monumental abstract sculptures that verged on the architectural. He worked from loose gestural drawings like this preparatory sketch for his Man Stabile, from 1966. Throughout his career, he also worked as a set designer for the theater, as well as an illustrator and printmaker, producing vibrant, whimsical drawings for books and journals.
Find original Alexander Calder art today on 1stDibs.
Spirals
By Alexander Calder
Located in London, GB
Alexander Calder Spirals, 1969 signed bottom right Color lithograph on Rives BFK, 89 x 60 cm 35 x 23.6 inches Alexander Calder was an American sculptor known both for his innovative...
Handmade Paper, Lithograph
Spirals and Forms
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Signed and numbered in pencil Color lithograph on wove paper Condition: In Excellent condition
Lithograph
Discs and Spirals
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976) Signed: Calder (Lower, Right) Discs and Spirals, 1970 Lithograph in Colors on Wove Paper Sheet Size: 26” x 38” Numbered: Numbered from an editi...
Lithograph
Tempete
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated
Lithograph
Spirale Nebula
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
A very good impression of this large color lithograph on Arches. Signed and numbered 94/100 in pencil by Calder. Printed and published by Mourlot, Paris.
Color, Lithograph
Autres Têtards (Tadpoles)
By Alexander Calder
Located in Naples, Florida
Lithograph in colors on wove paper Watermark Maeght Signed and numbered in pencil lower right and left: Calder Titled and dated in pencil on the verso, possibly in ...
Paper, Lithograph
Galactic Systems
By Alexander Calder
Located in Miami, FL
Lithograph in colors on Arches paper, full sheet Published by Éditions de la Différence, Paris 20.4 x 28.3 inches Signed and numbered in pencil, from an edition of 100 copies Conditi...
Lithograph
The Flying Colors
By Alexander Calder
Located in London, GB
Alexander Calder The Flying Colors, 1974 Signed with artist's monogram and dated, from the edition of 250, published by State Street, New York for Braniff International Airline, with...
Paper, Lithograph
UNTITLED
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
This work of art is a lithograph on paper featuring abstract geometric shapes in primary colors.
Lithograph
The Triangles and Spiral
By Alexander Calder
Located in Missouri, MO
The Triangles and Spiral, 1973 By. Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976) Signed Lower Right Numbered: 66/150 Unframed: 26 x 19.25 inches Framed: 34 x 27 inches Alexander Calder was born in Philadelphia in 1898. After obtaining his mechanical engineering degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology, Calder worked at various jobs before enrolling at the Art Students League in New York City in 1923. During his student years, he did line drawing for the National Police Gazette. In 1925, Calder published his first book, Animal Sketches...
Color, Lithograph
Red and Blue Swirl with Sun
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Created in 1975 by Alexander Calder as an original lithograph in colors on wove paper, Red and Blue Swirl with Sun is hand-signed in pencil and annotated "E.A.". Measuring 20 ½ x 29 ...
Lithograph
Untitled
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Published to aid the National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee, Untitled, 1976 is the frontispiece from the artist’s, Our Unfinished Revolution portfolio, created by Alexander Ca...
Lithograph
Untitled
By Alexander Calder
Located in New York, NY
Commissioned to create and published by The World Federation of United Nations Associations to celebrate it 30th Anniversary in 1976, Alexander Calder created this original color lit...
Lithograph
Red Flowers
By Donald Sultan
Located in New York, NY
Created as a textured color screenprint by Donald Sultan in 2012, Red Flowers is hand-signed, titled, dated and numbered, the artwork measuring 41 x 77 in. ...
Screen
Untitled
By Joan Miró
Located in New York, NY
This original color lithograph on Rives vellum paper was created in 1981 and is from the Lithographie IV portfolio. It measures 12.5 x 9.75 inches (32 x 25 cm), unframed, and is from...
Lithograph
Untitled
By Joan Miró
Located in New York, NY
Joan Miro, Untitled, 1981 (from Lithographie IV) Original color lithograph on Rives vellum paper 12 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (32 x 25 cm), unframed Edition of 4000 (Published by Maeght in 198...
Lithograph
There are no sparkling gemstones on this necklace, but its value far exceeds the cost of its materials.
Get your dose of Vitamin D while surveying works by the likes of Alexander Calder, Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso.
